strange it is to say, that they will even quote the word of God, as countenancing their ways; and, without once considering the true import of the passages they adduce, they will cry, "The law of the Lord is with us." But let them bring forth their strong reasons; let them shew us from the word of God, that no "difference shall be put between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth the Lord and him that serveth him not:" let them prove to us, that a course of sin and impenitence, and an unconcern about our future state, are innocent, or at most only trifling faults, which will not be regarded in the day of judgment. Let them shew us these things from the word of God; and then we are prepared to say, In vain has God made it, and the pen of the scribes (who have either recorded or expounded it) is in vain." Certainly, if they succeed in that attempt, the Bible is the most worthless book in the universe; for men could live in sin and neglect God, without any book to direct or encourage them in such ways.] That our expostulation may not fall to the ground, we entreat you to listen to a few words of salutary ADVICE 66 1. Consider your ways [This is a reasonable duty; and can do you no harm: if your conduct have been conformable with the will of God, you will have great comfort in ascertaining that it has been so: if, on the contrary, it has been such as God decidedly condemns, you will have an opportunity of altering it before it be too late- -] 2. Renounce your sins [This must be connected with the former, and indeed must result from it'. You cannot but know that there has been much amiss, both in your heart and life: search it out therefore, and, whatever it may be, put it from you: if it be useful as a right hand, or precious as a right eye, spare it not, but cast it uttterly away. Attempt not to justify or extenuate it; but acknowledge your criminality and danger; and cast overboard the goods that would sink the ship---] 3. Obey the Gospel [Sinful as your state has been, the Gospel proposes to you an infallible remedy: it sets forth a Saviour; and invites you to come to him. Obey the call: come to him, who bought you with his blood: and accept the salvation which he freely offers to the chief of sinners At the same time "Be wise * They will quote Prov. iii. 17. and Mic. vi. 8. 1 Ezek. xviii. 28. indeed, and let the word of the Lord be truly with you." Let "the glorious Gospel of the blessed God" be indeed the one ground of your hope, and the one rule of your conduct. Let the light which it exhibits be desired by you; and let all your deeds be brought to it, that it may be manifest that they are wrought in God."] 66 MXLII. HEALING OUR WOUNDS SLIGHTLY. Jer. viii. 11. They have healed the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace. THERE were, amongst the Jews, false prophets, who accommodated themselves to the corrupt taste of their hearers, who said to them, "Prophesy unto us smooth things; prophesy deceits." In particular, they assured the people that the judgments denounced against them by Isaiah, Jeremiah, and others, should never come upon them; that the king of Babylon should never succeed in his efforts against Jerusalem; and that, though they should still continue to walk after the imagination of their own evil hearts they had nothing to fear. Thus they lulled the people asleep in their sins, promising them peace, when in reality there was no peace;" but the heaviest judgments of Almighty God were impending over them'. 66 Such prophets have existed at all periods of the Church," with lies making the heart of the righteous sad, whom God has not made sad; and strengthening the hands of the wicked, that he should not return from his wicked way, by promising him life"." But whilst we lament the effect of such delusive ministrations, and refer all persons to the written word, as the only true standard of sound doctrine; we would not forget, that men love to deceive themselves, and, by indulging vain conceits of their own, in opposition to the written word, to silence the a Jer. xxiii. 17. b Ezek. xiii. 10-16. Ezek. xiii. 22. with Deut. xxix. 19, 20. convictions of conscience, and to " speak peace to themselves, when there is no peace." For the benefit of such persons, we will endeavour to shew, I. What need we all have of healing Sin has infected all the powers of our souls This melancholy truth is, 1. Asserted in the Scriptures ["God made man upright; but he has sought out many inventions"." His very heart is corrupt; so that "every imagination of it is evil, and only evil, continually!" The extent of his depravity can scarcely be overstated: as the Apostle clearly shewss -and the description given of the Jewish people may be well applied to every people, yea, and to every individual also in the whole world: "The whole head is sick, and the whole heart is faint: from the sole of the foot even to the head there is no soundness in us; but wounds, and bruises, and putrefying sores"."] 2. Confirmed by experience [Who is there amongst us that must not confess this to be his own state? Who does not find darkness in his understanding, rebellion in his will, sensuality in his affections? Who is there that does not perceive a partiality in his conscience, and, as far as spiritual things are concerned, a forgetfulness in his memory; so that, in all his faculties, he is unlike what he was when he came out of his Creator's hands? That there are some traces of his original excellence, I willingly admit. There is in some persons a measure of benevolence towards man: but towards God there is in all the same rooted indisposition and enmity: "The carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be."] But, as many think themselves healed whilst yet they are in a perishing condition, I will proceed to shew, II. Who they are that heal their wounds slightlyOf these there are many classes: many "speak peace to themselves, when there is no peace." Amongst these are, 1. They who rely on the uncovenanted mercy of God [Many have an idea that God is too merciful to inflict on men the judgments he has denounced against sin: and on this presumption they dismiss all fear of future punishment. As for the justice or holiness of the Deity, they altogether overlook them; supposing that their claims may be superseded without any difficulty, and that truth itself also may be violated without any dishonour done to God. But all this is a delusion, which will betray them to their ruin. God is merciful, no doubt; yea, merciful beyond all conception: but then his mercy flows only in that channel which he himself has prepared, even through the Son of his love: and to expect it in any way that is inconsistent with the Divine attributes, is fatally to deceive our own souls.] 2. They who take refuge in a round of duties [It is common for persons, when convinced of sin, to engage in religious duties, with a hope of making thereby their peace with God. They will begin to read the Scriptures in private, and to attend on divine ordinances in public, and exercise a greater measure of benevolence to their fellowcreatures; trusting that God will accept their services, and for the sake of them will pardon their past transgressions. But this is only to "heal their wounds slightly:" for there are two things necessary to their perfect restoration; the one is, to make an atonement for sin; the other is, to get their souls renewed after the Divine image: but neither of these can ever be effected by any exertions of their own. The attainments of the Apostle Paul, eminent as they were, could not stand in the place of Christ, either before his conversion or afterwards: and therefore he desired "to be found in Christ; not having his own righteousness, but the righteousness which is of God by faith in Christ." Much more, therefore, must we renounce all hope of acceptance with God through any works of our own; and seek salvation by Christ alone, if ever we would "behold the face of God in peace."] 3. They who rest in a faith that is unproductive of good works [True it is, that we must be saved by faith alone: and equally true it is, that faith does not save us, because it produces good works. It saves us simply as apprehending Christ, in and through whom we are reconciled to God. But the faith which apprehends Christ aright, will work; it will "work by love," and "purify the heart," and "overcome the world:" and if the faith which we possess do not operate in this way, it is dead, and of no more efficacy for our salvation than the faith of devils. The only faith which will be of real service to k Phil. iii. 9. us, is that which unites us unto Christ, as branches to the vine; and enables us, by virtue derived from him, to bring forth fruit to his glory.] Yet, as there is a perfect remedy, it becomes me to state, III. How we may have them healed effectuallyThe Lord Jesus Christ has provided a remedy for sin [He has, by his own obedience unto death, atoned for sin, and "brought in an everlasting righteousness" for his believing people. Hear the blessed tidings brought to us by the Prophet Isaiah: "He was wounded for our transgressions, and bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed1." Stupendous thought! We healed by stripes! by stripes inflicted on Jehovah's fellow! What a mystery is this! how utterly incomprehensible! Well does the Apostle say, "How unsearchable are God's judgments, and his ways past finding out m!"] That remedy, applied by faith, shall be effectual for all who trust in it [The man who believes in Christ, has all his guilt purged away; so that "though his sins may have been as crimson, they shall be as wool; though they have been as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow"." Nor is this all: the man who believes in him, shall receive out of his fulness such a supply of grace as shall be effectual for the restoration of his soul to the Divine "image, in righteousness and true holiness." The declaration of an inspired Apostle is, that "We, beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image, from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." Thus, by this simple remedy, shall our guilt be removed; and, at the same time, the corruption of our nature, like the waters of Jericho, be healed by the salt of divine grace infused into the soul. If any be not healed, it is not for want of a Physician; but because, with the balm of Gilead in their hands, they will not apply it".] ADDRESS 1. Those who feel not their need of healing [Many, who are sensible that our nature is imperfect, have yet no conception that they are infected with a fatal 1 Isai. liii. 5. m Rom. xi. 33. n Isai. i. 18. |